Lions add two defensive linemen off waivers; no players waived by team on Tuesday get claimed
Allen Park — The Detroit Lions bolstered their defensive line through waivers on Wednesday, claiming Tyler Lacy and Tyrus Wheat.
Lacy was a fourth-round draft pick out of Oklahoma State in 2023. He appeared in 28 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars the past two seasons, including eight starts as a rookie.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 280 pounds, he primarily plays inside, but did see some work on the edge for the Jaguars. Playing 485 defensive snaps the past two seasons, he tallied 37 tackles (three for a loss) and four quarterback hits. He hasn’t recorded a sack.
Wheat, who came into the league in 2023 as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State, has appeared in 20 games for the Dallas Cowboys the past two seasons.
After primarily playing special teams as a rookie, Wheat got 165 defensive snaps in his second season, registering 14 tackles, seven quarterback pressures and a half-sack.
Wheat played a ton this preseason, drawing 144 snaps in three games for Dallas. He continued to flash as a pocket disruptor, generating nine pressures on 70 rush attempts.
Both Lacy and Wheat are above-average athletes for their positions, each showcasing impressive burst coming out of college via the 10-yard splits of their 40-yard dashes.
The additions bring Detroit's roster up to 52 players, following the morning trade of wide receiver Tim Patrick and the pending signing of veteran safety and special teams maven Daniel Thomas.
Across the league, just 27 players were claimed after several hundred were waived around the league a day earlier. None of the 28 players waived by the Lions were claimed, including quarterback Hendon Hooker and wide receiver Jackson Meeks. All 28 of those players are immediately free to sign with practice squads. Those 16-man units will be quickly pieced together, with most of the agreements expected to get done Wednesday afternoon.
Shout out to Brad Holmes. Man, he really knows what he’s doing. To get a sixth round pick for an aging receiver who had a bad camp. To know that everyone was going to go unclaimed. That gave him the flexibility to go to 50 and see who he might be able to pick up and give a try. Just brilliant all the way around. The dude knows what he’s doing.
Holmes and co. continue to make strategic and thoughtful decisions and clearly communicate these to all stakeholders ensuring that relationships and dignity is at the forefront.